Global climate-related health risks accelerating, Lancet Countdown 2026 reveals
Global climate-related health risks accelerating, Lancet Countdown 2026 reveals
IN · Published Oct 28, 2026
• The 2026 Lancet Countdown on health and climate change highlights a significant acceleration in climate-related health risks since the Paris Agreement.
• The report, led by University College London and the World Health Organization, reveals that the past 11 years have been the hottest on record, with heat, drought, and water extremes increasingly threatening food security, livelihoods, and lives.

Impact & Risks

The report underscores the severe impacts of climate change on health, food security, and economic stability. Heat-related deaths have surged, particularly in low and middle Human Development Index countries, which face disproportionate climate impacts. Agriculture and construction sectors are most affected by heat-related productivity losses, with South-East Asia and Africa experiencing GDP losses of 3.9% and 3.2%, respectively. Additionally, changes in water storage and increased heavy rainfall are raising risks of floods, landslides, and waterborne diseases, threatening sanitation and food supplies globally.

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